Rebellions: Coups by Night

Two small but bitter political uprisings
shook two nations last week. Both were quickly suppressed, but both
momentarily illuminated the half-hidden political forces at work in the
two countries.

In Portugal, a somewhat amateurish band of conspirators tried to unseat
Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. At 2 a.m. New Year's Day, as heavy winds
and rain lashed the wheatfields around Beja, 85 miles southeast of
Lisbon, a sentry at the 3rd Infantry Regiment barracks was roused by
the approach of four automobiles. Recognizing three of his own
regimental officers, he waved the cars...